Coverage of the San Francisco 49ers

Niners Losing Faith in Jimmy Raye: Report

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SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 12: The San Francisco 49ers take the field prior to the NFL season opener against the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field on September 12, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** 49ers

Anyone who saw that loss to the Seahawks Sunday could tell you that the San Francisco 49ers' offense was so sloppy it made the San Francisco Board of Supervisors look professional and effective. But as the report says ominously, "the real problem has been more than a year in the making" and "could undermine the already tepid trust the players have in the coaching staff."

Now it's a Yahoo! Sports report from an out-of-town reporter that doesn't name any of its sources. But Jason Cole has been a solid newspaper sports reporter for nearly 20 years, and I would bet my upper level behind-the-rafters end zone seats to the Saints game that his information comes from someone currently on the 49ers payroll.

Someone who talked told Cole said, "It seems like Jimmy calls plays from memory a lot of the time and not exactly the way it’s written down. He knows the plays and he knows the right thing to call, but he’s fumbling through his papers and it’s like, ‘Hey, we need to get a play called.'"

Think this carpetbagging out-of-town reporter is just manufacturing stories? Matt Maiocco, who's covered these 49ers daily for 17 years, has heard similar things.

"Two key offensive players suggested privately last year that (quarterbacks coach Mike) Johnson would be a favorable option at 49ers offensive coordinator for the future," Maiocco reported this week.

Singletary reiterated his support for Raye in his press conference Tuesday.